USA > Indiana > Clinton County > History of Clinton County, Indiana : With historical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families, Volume II > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
To John Timmons, Sr., and wife was born the following children : Michael, Ezekiel, Elizabeth, David, Jane, Sophronia, John W., Jr., Alice and Della. The father of the above named children died at the age of fifty-one years. Politically he was a Democrat, and he and his wife were members of the Methodist church. The mother survived to the advanced age of
483
CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
eighty-one years. The father was a very large man physically, weighing three hundred and twenty-five pounds.
John W. Timmons, Jr., was reared on the oldl home farm and there he worked hard when a boy, and received his educational training in the com- mon schools of his township. When twenty-two years old he married Ida Chenoweth, who was born and reared in Clinton county, and here she was educated in the public schools. She is a daughter of William N. Chenoweth. a respected farmer of Perry township Hle was born on April 20, 1839, the son of Arthur Chenoweth, a native of Kentucky. William Chenoweth was married at the age of twenty-four years, while living in Montgomery county, Indiana, to Esther Dunbar, a widow. Of this union one child was born, Ida, wife of Mr. Timmons.
Mrs. Esther Chenoweth died at the age of twenty-six years, in 1866. Her mother's name was Bowers before her marriage. She was a daughter of Abner Bowers, an old soldier.
The subject of this sketch has a productive and well improved farm of seventy-five acres, and here he carries on general farming and stock raising successfully. He has a pleasant dwelling and substantial outbuildings, in- cluding a garage. He owns a good forty horse power automobile.
The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Timmons : Lela, wife of Prof. J. Sarig, of Cass county ; Walter, Russell, Carl and Eugene.
Mr. Timmons was president of the local telephone company for four years, and its large success was due to his able management. He brought it out of a debt of three hundred and fifty dollars, and soon had it on a money making basis. He is a member of Masonic Lodge, No. 473, of which he served as master four years. Mrs. Timmons is a member of the Eastern Star, of which she has been matron for two terms, discharging the duties of her position in a most commendable manner. They are both members of the Christian church of Colfax.
R. C. CARTER
The subject of this sketch is one of the progressive agriculturists of Perry township, whose fine farm, known as Sunny Side, the name the great author, Washington Irving, gave his estate on the banks of the pictur- esque Hudson, ranks with the best in this locality, this attractive place having been improved by Mr. Carter to its present high state of excellency by years
484
CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
of patient toil and skillful management. His success has been won entirely along the lines of old and time-tried maxims, "honesty is the best policy," and "there is no excellence without labor," being among the ones he has sought to follow. His place consists of one hundred and twenty acres, well located in section 24, one of the best agricultural districts in Clinton county.
R. C. Carter was born in Franklin county, Indiana, May 31, 1868. He is a son of William Carter, who was born in England near the world's greatest city, London. He came of a sterling old Anglo-Saxon family, noted alike for its industry and honesty. The date of his birth was 1832, and his death occurred in 1897 at the age of sixty-five years. He emigrated to the United States in early life and liere became well established and was respected by all who knew him, for he was industrious and honorable at all times. He was accompanied to this country by his parents, the family settling in Franklin county, Indiana, and there occurred the death of the grandfather of our subject. The mother of our subject was Rebecca Beasley before her marriage, and she, too, was a native of England, and her family brought her to Franklin county, Indiana, when she was a young girl and there established their new home, and there she grew to womanhood and received her education. . Only her mother came to America, her father having died in England. Her mother lived to be sixty-three years of age. Eight children were born to William Carter and wife, five of whom are living, four sons and one daughter : John, Joseph of Perry township; Richard, of this review ; Susanna, who lives in Jackson township, and Thomas, also of that town- ship. The father of the above named children followed farming all his life. Politically he was a Republican, and he and his wife belonged to the United Brethren church.
Richard C. Carter grew to manhood on the home farm and there worked when a boy. He received a good common school education, and he has de- . voted his life to farming and raising live stock. His excellent farm lies three-quarters of a mile north of Manson. He keeps his place in a high state of improvement and cultivation. He has a cozy home in the midst of attractive surroundings and has substantial outbuildings. He handles at all seasons a good grade of live stock.
Mr. Carter was married when twenty-two years of age, in Jackson town- ship, to Flora Goode, who was born in Boone county, this state, where she was reared and educated. She is a daughter of Philip Goode and wife, who finally removed to Jackson township, this county, and established a good home there. Mr. Goode was killed by accident at the age of fifty-three years in 1896. Politically he was a Democrat, and he belonged to the United Brethren
.
485
CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
church, in which he was a deacon and a steward. His family consisted of the following children : Levina, Flora, who married Mr. Carter of this sketch ; Lew Wallace, Lulu. Ora, who was a soldier in the Philippines; America, Birdie and Clifford. The mother of the above named children is still living, making her home in Jackson township, where she has a host of warm friends.
To our subject and wife one child, a son, Guy, has been born, his birth having occurred in 1894. Ile is attending school in Frankfort, taking a business course.
Mr. and Mrs Carter are members of the Christian church and are liberal supporters of the same.
SAMUEL B. SMITII.
A well known and prosperous business man of Mulberry, Clinton county, is Samuel B. Smith, a man who has done a very great deal for his community, for he has always been more deeply interested in her welfare than in any other locality, and it is quite natural that he should have been, this being his native home, the scene of his parents' struggles to rear their children, the scene where many things have happened to make it hallowed. To him, as to most of us, "there is no place like home."
Mr. Smith was born in October, 1855, on a farm near Mulberry. He is a son of Israel Smith, one of the old and honored citizens of this com- munity, who was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, September 24, 1829, a son of Christian Smith, also a native of Pennsylvania, and he in turn a son of Michael Smith, a native of Germany, from which country he emi- grated to the United States in the old Colonial period and settled in Penn- sylvania, where he spent the rest of his life. Christian Smith married Eliza- beth Miller, a sister of Eli Miller an early settler of Madison township, Clinton county. Christian Smith and family came to this county in 1839, locating two miles west of Mulberry, and there he worked at farming and shoemaking. He was, like most of the pioneers, a hunter, there being at this time of his settlement here, bear, deer, turkey and many other denizens of the wild. He obtained plenty of honey from bee trees in the forest. His family consisted of four children, namely: Levi, Israel, Moses and Paul. His death occurred at the age of seventy-four years, and his wife lived to be seventy-six years of age. They were fine Christian characters, members of the Reformed church. Israel Smith, father of the subject of this sketch, grew up amid pioneer conditions and he worked hard assisting his father on
486
CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
the home place. ITe received a meager education in the old log cabin schools of his day. When a boy he learned the shoemaker's trade, which he fol- lowed in connection with farming. He became owner of some good prop- erty in Madison township. In 1852 he married Susan Clapper, who was a native of Pennsylvania, a daugliter of Henry and Catherine (Kephart) Clap- per, who emigrated to Randolph county in 1851, and here they spent the rest of their lives, the father dying at the age of seventy-four years and the mother at the age of seventy-eight. They were members of the Reformed church, and were the parents of ten children, six sons and four daughters. Israel Smith and wife have been married sixty-one years, mutually happy and helpful. They are an old couple whom everybody admires for their honesty and charitableness. Only two children were born to them, Samuel B., of this review; and Catherine Elizabeth, who married William Bates, they living on the old Smith homestead. The parents are members of the Reformed church, the father being a deacon and formerly elder in the same.
Samuel B. Smith was reared on the home farm and he was educated in the district schools. On March 1I, 1880, he married Jennie M. Nobes, a woman of educaton and a successful school teacher before her marriage. She is a daughter of Rev. W. B. Nobes, now deceased. He was a prominent minister in the Methodist church. He was a native of the Isle of Wight. The mother of Mrs. Smith was known in her maidenhood as Matilda Burch- by, a native of Lancaster, England. The Nobes family emigrated to St. Louis, Missouri, later moved to Illinois, then to Cincinnati, Ohio, then to Jefferson county, thence to Tippecanoe county, near Lafayette. The father's death occurred at Flora, Indiana. He was a sincere minister of the gospel and a man greatly beloved by all who knew him. His wife died at the age of seventy-seven years. Three children were born to them, namely: C. E., of Lebanon, Indiana ; A. C., of Indianapolis; and Mrs. Jennie M., wife of Mr. Smith.
Samuel B. Smith has been engaged in the grocery and hotel business for a period of twenty-three years. He has built up a large and lucrative trade with the surrounding country, always carrying a fresh and general stock of staple and fancy groceries, and his hotel is pupular with the traveling public. It contains twenty-three rooms, well furnished, and courteous treatment is given all guests. Cleanliness is the motto here. Excellent home cooking is found here and the hotel is known to all traveling men who make this section of the state who are always glad to spend their time here when in Mulberry. Everyone is made to feel at liome. As a musician and band leader Mr. Smith is well known, and he has been leader of the local band, one of the
r
-
487
CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
best in the county, for a quarter of a century. He is also a choir and orches- tra leader of prominence and his services are in great demand. He has been connected with the choir of the local Reformed church for a period of thirty- five years. He has also been superintendent of the Sunday school and his wife has been superintendent of the children's department for years. Jessie Smith, a daughter of S. B. Smith, is a teacher of music and has been in charge of the pipe organ at the church for three years. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are both prominent in churh and Sunday school work. They both belong to the Reformed church.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith: Perlin, married to Bert Seifert, of Chicago, has two children, Harold and Bertha; Jessie, at home; Violet Marie, born in 1900, died April 1, 1912, was noted for her talent as an artist and musician, and gave every promise of a brilliant future ; Samuel B., Jr., the only son, died in early life.
Mr. Smith is a Republican in politics, but is not a politician and was never an office holder.
MRS. FRANCES COIN.
This estimable lady is deserving of much credit for what she has accom- plished in the face of obstacles and discouragements that would have thwart- ed the purposes of others of less sterling fibre, and she has shown herself to be capable of managing successfully a large and valuable farm, being the for- tunate owner of The Oakland, one of the best stock and grain farms in Perry township, Clinton county, on which stands one of our most attractive rural homes. She is the possessor of many commendable attributes of head and heart and has long been a. favorite with a wide circle of friends and acquaint- ances. 1
Martin Coin, deceased husband of Mrs. Frances Coin, of this review, was one of the prominent agriculturists and stock men of this county. He was born in Cass county, Indiana, May 1, 1854, and his death occurred on November 17, 1907. He came of a worthy old family, noted alike for their industry and honesty. He was a son of Randolph and Eleanor (Ryan) Coin, both born in Virginia, and each representatives of fine old Southern families. There they spent their earlier years, finally coming to Cass county, Indiana. They each received such educations as the old-time schools afforded. They became well established in Cass county and there spent the rest of their lives.
Martin Coin was reared in the Hoosier state and when a boy assisted
488
CLINTON COUNTY, INDIAN.A.
with the general work on the home farm, and he received a good common school education. In early manhood he was married to Frances Coyner, a representative of one of the sterling pioneer families, who early settled in Perry township, this county, where Mrs. Coin was born. reared and edu- cated. She is a daughter of Jacob Coyner, who came of an old Maryland family, whose ancestors originally came from Germany, about the year 1700. The family became prominent in the old Oriole state, assisted in the develop- ment of the localities where they lived, fought in our early wars and en- couraged the work of the school and the church. The family finally moved to Indiana and became well established in Clinton county, known here for their honesty and industry, and many noble qualities of head and heart. Jacob Coyner left a large and valuable estate for his children.
Mrs. Coin's valuable farm of one hundred and forty-seven acres lies three and one-half miles northeast of Colfax. It is well managed, well kept, everything denoting thrift and care.
Mrs. Coin has one daughter, Mrs. Goldie Gladen, who was given ex- cellent educational advantages. She was married in 1908 to Walker Glad- den, a young man of much promise and fine character. They have one child, a daughter, Frances Marguerite, born February 11, 1912, and a son, Raymond, born July 26, 1909.
PHAON STECKEL.
There could be no more comprehensive history written of a community or county or even of a state and its people than that which deals with the life work of those who, by their own endeavor and indomitable energy, have placed themselves where they well deserve the title of "progressive." In this sketch will be found the record of one who has outstripped the less active and less able plodders on the highway of life, one who has been consistent in his life work and never permitted the "grass to grow under his feet," one who, while advancing his individual interests, has not neglected his full duties to the general public, at the same time upholding an honored family name.
Phaon Steckel, for many years a prominent farmer and surveyor, now living in retirement in Mulberry, Clinton county, was born near Ellentown, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, September 21, 1846. He is a son of Joseph Steckel, also a native of that county and state, his birth having occurred in 1811. He was a son of Peter Steckel, also born there. This was a sterling
MR. AND MRS. PHAON STECKEL
489
CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
old Pennsylvania German family. Joseph Steckel grew to manhood in his native community and married Ann Maria Ludwig, who was born in his own county on September 28, 1827. In 1849 they left Pennsylvania with their two children and came in wagons to Tippecanoe county, Indiana. Their first home there was a log cabin. They worked hard and became well estab- lished, buying land which they sold for a profit after improving. The two children mentioned above were Phaon, our subject, and Mrs. Mary E. Bear. To Joseph Steckel and wife twelve children in all were born, an cqual number of sons and daughters, namely: Lydia, Oliver, David, all died young; Phaon, Mrs. Mary E. Bear, Deborah (deceased) ; Joseph H., Mrs. A. Burk- halter (deceased) ; Ella J , married to Frank B. Elliott, whose sketch appears in this volume (deceased) ; Matilda, married to John E. Combs (deceased), Methusaleh, living in California, and Martin, living on a farm near Mul- berry.
Joseph Steckel was a successful man in his life work and was prominent in church work, being an elder and deacon in the church.
Phaon Steckel was reared on the home farm and was educated in the com- mon schools. He took up farming when a boy, and this has been his life work. . He engaged in general farming near Mulberry, and when a young man he took up surveying at which he became quite expert. His services were in great demand, and he became one of the best known surveyors in · this section of the state. He has surveyed muich land in Clinton county.
Mr. Steckel was married at Anamosa, Jones county, Iowa, to Frances Tuel, who was born in Dubuque, Ia., and was there reared and educated. She is a daughter of John Tuel, who was a soldier in the Civil war, in which he saw much service. His wife, Martha Ellen (Kline) Tuel, is still living, being now eighty-four years old. John Tuel and wife were the parents of twelve children, six boys and six girls, namely: Frances Virginia, wife of our subject ; George William, Laura Ann, died in childhood; John Gilbert, An- drew Warren, Abrahanı Douglas, Charles, Benjamin Rupert, Susan Cath- erine, Clara Viola, Mattie Jane, Ida May.
Mr. and Mrs. Steckel are the parents of six children: Laura Ann, Mrs. Ida O. Kleinsmith, Clara B., married to David Ruch, of Clinton county ; Christy Moleva, died young; Josephine May, married George Hacker, of this county ; Thomas Emanuel, a teacher in the University of Indiana, and Laura Ann, married to Preston Kurtz, and living at Treichlers, Pa.
Politically, Mr. Steckel is a Republican. His wife belongs to the .Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Steckel is a member of the Lutheran church.
490
CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
ROBERT F. BRADEN
It is a mistake to farm on the theory that crop rotation is the only essential to soil fertility. It is true that an intelligent rotation of crops will generally result in increased yields, but unless the rotation includes one of the legumes or the land is heavily fertilized with manure, the rotation will really mean depletion. Rotation will have the effect of increasing the yields for a period of years and an increased yield naturally draws heavily upon the plant food element of the soil. Continued croping exposes the land to various weaknesses of the particular crop that is grown, and as no two crops extract the same proportion of plant food, the continually grown crop is bound to lessen the available fertility of one or more of the principal soil constituents. Rotation has the effect of making available all of the plant food element, and as the average soil is generally well supplied with fertile material, depletion will come that much sooner unless proper steps are taken to maintain the principal soil ingredients.
One of the most extensive and successful general farmers and stock men of Washington township, Clinton county, who has well understood the subjects of crop rotation and fertilization, so that the original fertility and strength of soil has been retained on his fine farm, widely known as "Blue Grass Stock Farm," is Robert F. Braden, whose attractive home is located three miles west of the town of Jefferson.
Mr. Braden was born on a farm in this locality on July 20, 1868. He is a son of William M. Braden, deceased, who was for many years one of Clinton county's leading citizens. He was born on the old Braden homestead in 1837, and here he spent his life engaged in farming and his father, Burr Braden, kept a store at Jefferson. He married Laura Watt daughter of Robert Watt, and here she was reared and educated.
Burr Braden, our subject's paternal grandfather, was a farmer in Virginia, and he emigrated to Clinton county, Indiana, when this country was a wilderness and settled in the woods, but being a hard worker and a rugged character he soon had a good home established. His wife was a Miss Jenners, of a prominent old family of Virginia. Their family consisted of nine children: Hector, Mrs. Sarah Clark, William M., father of our subject; Robert F., Sr., a soldier in the Civil war, died at Lafayette where he was a prominent citizen ; Alba, Annie, Jennings, Addison, died in 1912 in Lafayette, and Mrs. Jeanette Garrett of Frankfort.
To William M. Braden and wife three children were born : Mary J., still living on the old home place; Robert F., of this review, and Alba who died
491
CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
when thirty-five years of age, leaving a widow and two children, William M., and Laura N.
The subject of this review was reared on the home place and he assisted with the general work there when a boy. He received a good education in the public schools. He was married in 1911 to Christine Dorner, who was born, reared and educated at Frankfort. She is a daughter of Philip and Magdalene Dorner, a well known family of Frankfort.
Mr. Braden has a well improved and valuable farm of over five hundred acres, and everything is under a superb system. On it stands an excellent set of outbuildings, and a good ten-roomed dwelling, neatly furnished. He is an excellent judge of live stock, and feeds large numbers of cattle and hogs annually for the market. He raises Percheron horses and his fine draft horses find a very ready market owing to their superior quality. He is owner of some of the best horses in the state, which are greatly admired by all who see them.
J. FRANK SMITH.
The biographies of representative men of a county bring to light many hidden treasurers of mind, character and courage, well calculated to arouse the pride of their family and of the community, and it is a source of regret that the people are not more familiar with the personal history of such men, in the ranks of whom may be found tillers of the soil, merchants, mechan- ics, teachers, professional men, business men and those of varied vocations. J. Frank Smith, secretary and manager of the Clinton Lumber Company, of Mul- berry, is one of the creditable representative business men of Clinton county, and as such has made his influence felt for the general good of his com- munity, and earned a name for enterprise, integrity and honor.
Mr. Smith was born near Delphi, Carroll county, Indiana, December 16, 1875. He is à son of James W. Smith, a native of this state, and a representa- tive of an old pioneer family. He was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war. He is still living and is an elder in the Christian church. He married Mary Jane Drummonds, who was called to eternal rest some five years ago. To this union six children were born.
Our subject was reared on the home place and received his education in the public schools, and the high school. When a young man he was con- nected with the Voorhees Lumber Company, at Flora, Indiana, with which he remained for seven years, in the meantime learning the ins and out of this
.
492
CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
line of business. He was engaged in the lumber business at Gaston, Indiana, for a period of four years. He then returned to Flora, Indiana, and was en- gaged in the retail hardware business in partnership with his brother, Chas. E. Smith, under the firm name of Smith Bros. for a period of four years.
Mr. Smith is secretary of the Mulberry Poultry Association. His hobby is the raising of fancy chickens, his specialty being White Orpingtons. He and his son, Don, devote a great deal of time to this and finding a ready sale over a wide territory for their chickens, which have taken many premiums at different poultry shows. He has for some time been secretary and manager of the Clinton Lumber Company, at Mulberry, and has done much toward in- creasing the prestige of this popular concern. This is one of the largest and most widely known lumber firms in Clinton county, and an extensive business is carried on over a wide territory. A twenty thousand dollar stock of lum- ber is carried, of all kinds, carefully selected and prices are always reasonable. Everything that is needed in the construction of all kinds of buildings may be obtained here-lumber, laths, shingles, doors and sash, lime, cement and plaster, builders' hardware, Royal field fence, white cedar, red cedar and locust fence posts, sewer tile, paints, varnish and oils.
Michael J. Gilmartin is president of the firm and Emma J. Smith vice-presi- dent and treasurer.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.